Choose a San Antonio Culinary Training College

With its huge beef industry, Texas offers fertile ground for aspiring chefs. And as the second largest city in Texas, San Antonio offer many opportunities at well-known restaurants and hotels to start a new career in the culinary industry. Last year, Texas saw the most growth in restaurant jobs across the country. The combination of growth and opportunity makes it an ideal location to begin your culinary studies and your career.

How to pick the right school

You’ll have to get used to learning how to sort the good apples from the bad – or even the not quite ready for perfection. You’ll have to do the same when evaluating culinary schools. The real meat of any program should be the training kitchen. It should feature a full line of up-to-date equipment and should be open to the public. Many schools even sponsor a restaurant or café that is run by students to provide needed training opportunities. Some will also promote gourmet-dinner nights or cooking competitions that the public is invited to attend. It will give you needed practice and exposure to discerning clientele. While you’re still learning the basics, you’ll need quality instructors: make sure there are experienced chefs or other restaurant professionals leading the courses. As the ultimate goal of any training program is to get started on a new career, be sure that the school you choose has services for job placement or counseling, as well as arrangements for internships or other training opportunities that lead to real job experience.

Most people who apply to culinary school will make the cut. Typical admissions standards require a high-school diploma or GED, as well as basic coursework. If the school is choosier, you may have to undergo testing or supplement your application with work experience or other training. If you’ve attended seminars or workshops, that may be helpful.

Options beyond a four-year degree

Two years is the typical time frame for finishing a culinary degree. But there are many options for reducing your time even further, or for setting a flexible schedule through night classes or online classes. The Culinary Institute of America has a 30-week certificate program, and other schools have certificates or degrees that can be finished in a year or less. Want more flexibility? Try online programming. Video instruction is optional in some cases for learning cooking techniques. More often, you will have to of had some time in the lab or in a working kitchen to supplement the courses.

If you’re interested in managing a kitchen, many online programs are available that can be finished in two to four years.

Fulfilling your dreams in becoming a chef

With so much demand in the industry, recent graduates should be ready to work in no time. But don’t expect to be the hottest top chef at the biggest restaurant in town – at least right away. It will take time to work your way up, and your salary will reflect that. Line cooks will start at the bottom of the salary scale, while head chefs and managers will make the most. Working in a large city like San Antonio will improve your pay, but don’t expect to make as much if you leave to work in smaller or rural areas. The type of place you work at will also be important: Top restaurants, hotels, resorts and spas will offer better opportunities for pay. Obviously, working at a fast-food restaurant or diner will pay much less. If you want to make the big bucks, aim for the top. And put in your time: Experience pays.

In the meantime, join professional groups to network with industry professionals and improve your chances of finding hot jobs and getting your foot in the door. Try the San Antonio Restaurant Association or try attending local food festivals. You’ll get the same chances to meet chefs and other insiders, and you’ll be able to enter cooking competitions, where you could garner the attention of a new boss.

Campus-based Programs

St. Philips College
1801 Martin Luther King Drive
San Antonio, TX 78203
210-486-2000
alamo.edu/spc/
Culinary Arts
Culinary Studies
Hospitality Event Management
Hotel Management
CCSACS accredited

The Culinary Institute of America
312 Pearl Parkway, building 3
San Antonio, TX 78215
210-222-1113
ciachef.edu/cia-texas/
Culinary Arts
CHEMSACS accredited

Online-based Programs

The Art Institutes of Pittsburgh – Online Division
www.aionline.edu/
Hotel and Restaurant Management
MSCHE accredited

Ashworth College
www.ashworthcollege.edu/
Hotel and Restaurant Management
DETC accredited

The Culinary Institute of America – CIA Pro Chef
www.ciaprochef.com/
Culinary Arts
CHEMSACS accredited

Johnson and Wales University
www.jwu.edu/campus.aspx?id=25934
Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management
Culinary Arts & Food Service Management
NEASC accredited

Penn Foster Career School
www.pennfoster.edu/index.html
Hotel and Restaurant Management
DETC & CHEA accredited

SITE Academy
www.site.edu.au/
Hospitality
Tourism
No regional accreditation
AHLA association

Sullivan College
www.sullivan.edu/
Beverage Management
CCSACS & ACF accredited

Stratford Career Institute
www.scitraining.com/
Hotel/Restaurant Management
Travel and Tourism
DlA member, no regional accreditation

Virginia College Online
www.vconline.edu/
Culinary Arts
ACICS accredited